Sunday, 31 January 2010

Lesson from Hadith #3

اني لم ابعث لعّانا ،و لكن بعث رحمة
“Certainly, I have not been sent to curse anyone but rather, I have been sent as a mercy.”
[1]

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was once asked, “Ya Rasulullah! Invoke a curse upon the polytheists.” It was upon this request that he exclaimed, “Certainly, I have not been sent to curse anyone but rather, I have been sent as a mercy.”

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was sent with the hardest mission in a time which people were delved into the darkness of ignorance. It was important for him to gather support and this was done largely by his beautiful characteristics and merciful nature towards people. Once the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was displeased but rather than hollering and cursing he showed compassion and forgiveness. It is about this Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur’an, “It was a mercy of Allah that you were soft and gentle with them. If you were rude, harsh, hard hearted, then they would have fled away from you.” (3:159)

This hadith indicates that we should not invoke curses on anyone, rather we should be tolerant. In our day and age, we are unfortunately pressurised that we must accommodate people who enjoying calling other Muslims 'kaafir' and 'munafiqs', it is important for these people to take a step back and recognise exactly what type of person Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was.

The tongue tends to move very quickly but we should try our best not to wish bad upon anyone, even in states of deep anger and displeasure. Tolerance is truly a great characteristic; whomsoever has the ability to develop it within himself should do so.

This hadith also indicates that the impression given off from a Muslim should be one of compassion, towards Muslims and non Muslims.

[1] Adabul Mufrad: Hadith #332

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Lesson from Hadith #2


ليس المؤمن بالطّعان و لا اللّعّان و لا الفاحش و لا الباذيّ
“A believer is not one who taunts, nor one who curses, nor one who is immoral nor one who indulges in shameless talk ”[1]

By the term believer, a complete Muslim is insinuated. For only a complete Muslim can stay away from the temptations of the mouth. There are many people who have a bad habit of taunting people and causing them hurt. This is not from the characteristics of a believer or from a well mannered human being. To joke and taunt about someone in jest is a great sin and must be abstained from. Further, many have the habit of cursing straight away. If something does not go to plan, they instantly curse the object or the person that was the cause of it. This too is a very habit.

Finally, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam mentions that a Muslim is not an immoral person. Immorality and rudeness are very bad characteristics as they bring pride into a person. A person who is immoral is at a stage where he feels he can do or say anything as he has ripped the veil of shyness from himself. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam has mentioned taunting first in this hadith. Often, when a person taunts in abundance, he is paving the way towards the next sin mentioned in this hadith which is cursing. It almost feels natural for a person to continue into this new field. Thereafter, when a person’s mouth becomes so foul that he is abusive and full of curses, he loses the fear of being considered immoral as his pride makes him feel that he is superior. Thus this takes him into immorality and when a person reaches this juncture, he delves into shameless speech as has no consciousness of his deeds.

[1] Adabul Mufrad: Hadith #332 pg 262

Monday, 18 January 2010

Lesson from Hadith #1

لا يشكر الله من لا يشكر النّاس
“He who is not thankful to people is not thankful to Allah.” (Al Adabul Mufrad)

In order to thank people, one must use his mouth and show full gratitude. A person can show his gratefulness to people through actions by giving gifts etc but for a person to really show his thankfulness and gratefulness he must show it by the way of speech. It is speech which makes man different to an animal. If a person gave a monkey a banana, the monkey wouldn’t be able to say, “Cheers!” this is because Allah has not honoured the monkey with speech. However, Allah has honoured mankind with speech so that he can use his tongue to show his gratitude to his Creator. Part of showing this gratitude to Allah is by being thankful to people. When a person says “Thank you, May Allah reward you with something better” he is bringing pleasure to the person who helped him. If a person does not have the capability to show this thanks, then what is the difference between him and a monkey?

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Poetry: For Gaza

Is it justice when a child cries over the corpse of his mother?
And is forced to see the flesh stricken body of his brother?

So what crime is it then if he walks out with pebbles in his pocket?
Ready to relieve a heart of sorrow but only to be fired at by a rocket.

Where is the justice in having to be put to sleep by the silence of fear?
Knowing full well that any second a bomb may be thrown like a spear.

How can it be that death has replaced life as a source of rest?
As roads have been painted in red while the world continues to jest.

A stone contests a bullet, a boulder contests an airstrike,
What match is there between an armed tank and a bike?

So how can the sky be seen when it is garmented in smoke?
And the leaders of the Arab world take it all to be a joke.

Kings who have exchanged their brothers for wealth,
They sit lavishly on thrones and bargain their brothers health.

What then can be said about those who were thought to be of kin?
When it is they who remain passive and become the enemy from within?


We remember you and pray for you O bearers of sorrow,
We beseech Allah that He eases your tomorrow.

Your blood, honour, dignity and valour will never be forgotten,
We hope that you now have found peace in your garments of cotton.

Long live the people of Gaza, you are indeed the heroes of this nation,
We cannot take what you have taken, but we look at you with admiration.

May Allah Ta'ala grant Jannah to the people of Gaza. Ameen.

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

EVENT ALERT - FOR WOMEN - Science & The Qur'an


A Programme for Women - Science & The Qur'an

Speaker: Senior Ustadha of Jamea al Kauthar, Lancaster

Date& Time: Sunday 31st January 2010 at 2.00pm

Refreshments will be served

Venue: Lantern of Knowledge/Jamia Siraj ul Uloom, 30-36 Lindley Road, Leyton, London, E10 6QT.

Tel: 020 8539 5183 Web: www.jamia.co.uk

WOMEN ONLY

Please kindly spread the word. Jazakallah

Friday, 8 January 2010

Stories of Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh

This article has been translated from Tarashe, the wording in the brackets is my own in order to help the understanding.

Hazrat and The Padre

Once Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib rahmatullahi alayh was waiting at the bus stop when a Padre (Christian chaplain) approached him and said, “I can tell from your face that you are a big scholar of your religion.” Hazrat replied, “No, I am merely a student of knowledge.” The Padre said, “Do you have knowledge with regards to Islam?” Hazrat replied, “A bit.” Then Hazrat stated with regards to the cross the Padre was wearing, “This is incorrect, this is not the reality.” Then he stated forty proofs of the Prophetsalallahu alayhi wa salam & his prophethood. Ten from the Qur’an, ten from the Torah, ten from the Bible and ten using common sense.

Hazrat and The Qadiyanis

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Anwari Sahib Lailpuri rahmatullahi alayh who is the student of Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh relates that there was a famous debate in Bahaawalpur with the Qadiyanis. In this debate, a Qadiyani asked Hazrat Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahmatullahi alayh, “You have stated that your religion has been transmitted to you by the way of an unbroken transmission (i.e. there is an unbroken link all the way to the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam). And you also believe that if anybody rejects this then they have become a disbeliever. Well now you should put the fatwa of disbelief on Imam Raazi (who is a very big scholar from the past and is known for his Tafsir al Kabir)! Because in Fawatih Ar Rahmat Sharh Muslim Ath Thaboot, Allamah Bahr al Ulum has stated that Imam Raazi has rejected this principle.”

Maulana Anwari rahmatullahi alayh states that coincidentally, we did not have that book with us at that time (so that we could check it for ourselves) but Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib replied at the exact moment,

“Judge Sahib! Note that it has been 32 years since I last read this book and now I no longer have it. But Imam Raazi states that in the hadith where it is stated, “My nation will not gather upon a misguidance.” That this hadith is not on the level of the meaning of tawatur (unbroken transmission). He has rejected the unbroken transmission of this particular hadith, he has not rejected the argument of tawatur! This man has presented this case with trickery. Now tell him to read the actual text from the book otherwise I will take the book from him and read the text out (to you all) myself.”

Consequently, the Qadiyani representative began reading the text from the book. It was precisely that text (word for word) which Hazrat Allamah Shah sahib had dictated to us through his memory. The judge became overtaken with happiness. Hazrat Shah sahib then stated,

“Judge Sahib! This man wanted to leave us without an answer but it is because I am a student of knowledge I have read a few books here and there so that this does not occur.”

Monday, 4 January 2010

Reading Too Hard Inbetween Lines

This is a topic that I have been wishing to write for a while. There is an illness that many people have and that is reading too hard in to a situation or as the proverb is, “reading too hard inbetween the lines”. This proverb quite simply means that a person looks into a matter so thoroughly that his own minds concocts an entire ‘conspiracy’ against himself. They read so hard into things that they place negative ideas into words that were never meant to be offensive! Let me give you an example:

Balqees has got a new blue hijab. A sister by the name of Bulbuli who knows her sees this hijab and merely exclaims “It is a nice hijab but I would not wear it.” Balqees immediately sends her mind into overdrive and thinks of all possibilities as to why this comment has been made. She will now go through all scenarios and will draw up a conclusion that will immediately put Bulbuli in the wrong. Poor Bulbuli was only saying this because she does not like the colour blue but now Balqees will keep thinking this is because Bulbuli has something against her style and clothing. Like this, she will hold some resentment in her heart.

This is a very bad ailment that is in the Muslim ummat today. Many people aren’t allowed to breathe because there are people in the community who will instantly state on every given occasion, “it seems that you are hinting something”. However, some people are of an extremely pious nature and their humility is such that whenever a word of caution is said with regards to deen, they immediately feel that it is to do with them. These people are not mischief makers, they are people who have reached such a high level of spirituality that people like myself could only wish for. The example of these people is like the following example:

Balqees and Bulbuli walk past a group of people who are dropping litter, “It is very bad when people drop litter.” Bulbuli has so much fear of Allah Ta’ala that she immediately thinks about whether she has dropped anything that day. Though this comment was not targeted for her, she instantly reacts to it because of her worry and fear of Allah Ta’ala.

This is an excellent trait to have. Then there are other people who perhaps may be guilty and whenever something is mentioned, they feel that it is instantly applicable to them and that people are having a dig at them and as a result, they become extremely rude and defensive. These are people who think the world revolves around them and this is a very bad trait to have. It leads one to arrogance and thinking that he is superior and that his mere existence is on the minds of others when in reality he is a mere dot. The example of this person is as follows:

Balqees and Bulbuli are sitting with their friend Shelpi. Shelpi had recently smoked a ciggie but this was in secret and nobody knew. Balqees and Bulbuli are having a nice Islamic discussion with regards to how foul smoking is. Shelpi hears this and instantly feels that her two friends are ganging up on her and found out somehow. She begins to think about all the possible avenues for them finding out. She retraces her steps to where she had smoked and is now analysing whether it was possible for anyone to see her. She then thinks some more and comes to the conclusion that while she had gone into the toilet, Balqees and Bulbuli searched her bag to find these cigarettes. As a result of this, she gets angry and begins to resent her two friends immensely. Her heart becomes a vessel of hatred and whenever she thinks about those two, her stomach boils with feelings of betrayal. Of course, Shelpi is quite simply off her rocker!

The remedy is quite simple, a person must stop thinking that the world revolves around them. A level of maturity and self reflection should be left in a person that he can distinguish between a normal statement and a malicious statement. Otherwise his company and companionship will be a means of pain and stress for his friend. He will feel that his companions every utterance is something to scrutinise. Sooner or later, his friends will become sick and tired of him and would rather not know him or be with him. This is quite simply the result of jumping the barrel.

The advice to people who have friends such as this is straight forward. You must exercise tolerance and constantly lower the wings of humility. Remember this lifelong lesson, when confronted by a complete plank... just nod and smile...nod and smile. And make duaa that Allah Haqq Tabaraka wa Ta’ala helps them to change and us all.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the ability to be tolerant and know our true ranks among the people. Ameen.

Friday, 1 January 2010

New Year Resolutions

A new day. A new month. A new year and a perfect platform for us to make a change in our life! It's like a new peice of white clothing, maybe a handkercheif, or maybe a table cloth, or maybe just a simple white peice of paper, fresh with no folds! You can even smell the freshness in the air! This is the common feeling amongst people, that we have a new start to make the most of this year, list out all our targets what we aim to hope and do. Do we wish to quit smoking? Stop swearing? Spend less time on msn and facebook? Whatever it is, make the most of it. What do I mean?

A bride to be, wearing her white expensive wedding dress will take extra precaution in if it is clean or not and making sure it doesn't get stained or dirty. Although we may have previous sins on our name and on our account, put the past behind you and make the intention that from today I will put an end to whatever bad habits I may have. That way it will keep your record from the begining of this year sparkly clean! people during the year normally say, "ahh I'm not ready yet," or, "I'm going to change when I get married," and other such statements. This is the chance to change. This is the opportunity to grab a hold of. Just because you may have been something last year doesn't mean you have to carry on being that same type of person this year. If you keep doing that you won't ever change! What has happened yesterday can never be changed so ask for forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala and let it go. If people around you haven't moved on in terms of what they think about you then it doesn't mean that you have to stay in that same thought process with them and hold the same opinions about yourself. Just keep on moving forward. Don't let nobody keep you down. If you make a mistake say sorry, make taubah and get on with your life. I don't know how much to stress the potential of this day even though this day has no significance in the Islamic calendar and there is no virtue in this day but due to the psychological factor of this day I felt that it should be slightly neccessary that someone says something about it.

A man can go throughout this life walking in his shoes even if he needs to go to birmingham. But others in life will proceed from their feet to a bicycle and from a bicycle to a car and then using that car they get to birmingham much quicker than the bloke who decided to walk. In this same way take the example of us, we can either stay as we are and at that image that we either created for ourselves or of the image that people have of us or we can move through the ranks and proceed in life. We can go from being that guy who takes his steps in his nike trainers to a guy driving in a nice BMW down the motorway. Set some targets and try and stick to them for both deen and wordly purposes e.g I will sit down every night for an hour to read Qur'an and do some revision. Inshallah in doing so not only will it prove beneficial in this world but also in the hereafter.

May Allah grant me taufeeq and hidayat and all you brothers and sisters reading this aswell. Ameen.

Jazakallahu khair.